Patents by Inventor Neil Backus

Neil Backus has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Closed Brayton cycle shutdown control with valve system for thermally isolating electrical components
    Patent number: 12680479
    Abstract: A power-generation system includes an electrical system, a turbine engine, and a fluid control system. The turbine engine includes a compressor configured to receive and compress a working fluid, a heat source that transfers heat to the compressed working fluid, a turbine fluidly connected with the compressor to extract work from the heated working fluid and drive rotation of the compressor, and a first heat-exchanger fluidly connected with the turbine to transfer heat away from the heated working fluid to provide a cooled working fluid. The fluid control system fluidly is connected with the electrical system and the turbine engine to circulate the working fluid through the electrical system and the turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2025
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2026
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Neil Backus, Michael Monzella
  • Closed brayton cycle shutdown control with isolated fluid reservoir for cooling electrical components
    Patent number: 12587067
    Abstract: A power-generation system includes an electrical system, a turbine engine, and a fluid control system. The turbine engine includes a compressor configured to receive and compress a working fluid, a heat source that transfers heat to the compressed working fluid, a turbine fluidly connected with the compressor to extract work from the heated working fluid and drive rotation of the compressor, and a first heat-exchanger fluidly connected with the turbine to transfer heat away from the heated working fluid to provide a cooled working fluid. The fluid control system fluidly is connected with the electrical system and the turbine engine to circulate the working fluid through the electrical system and the turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2025
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2026
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Neil Backus, Michael Monzella
  • Closed Brayton cycle power generation system with compressor discharge fluid driven cooling flow for cooling electrical hardware
    Patent number: 12503956
    Abstract: A power-generation system includes an electrical system, a turbine engine, and a pump. The turbine engine includes a compressor configured to receive and compress a working fluid, a heat source that transfers heat to the compressed working fluid, a turbine fluidly connected with the compressor to extract work from the heated working fluid, and a first heat-exchanger fluidly connected with the turbine to transfer heat away from the heated working fluid to provide a cooled working fluid. The pump conducts a portion of the cooled working fluid from the first heat-exchanger to the electrical system to cool components of the electrical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2024
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2025
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Neil Backus, Stanford Clemens
  • CLOSED BRAYTON CYCLE POWER GENERATION SYSTEM WITH COMPRESSOR DISCHARGE FLUID DRIVEN COOLING FLOW FOR COOLING ELECTRICAL HARDWARE
    Publication number: 20250146424
    Abstract: A power-generation system includes an electrical system, a turbine engine, and a pump. The turbine engine includes a compressor configured to receive and compress a working fluid, a heat source that transfers heat to the compressed working fluid, a turbine fluidly connected with the compressor to extract work from the heated working fluid, and a first heat-exchanger fluidly connected with the turbine to transfer heat away from the heated working fluid to provide a cooled working fluid. The pump conducts a portion of the cooled working fluid from the first heat-exchanger to the electrical system to cool components of the electrical system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2024
    Publication date: May 8, 2025
    Inventors: Neil Backus, Stanford Clemens